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Description

This dataset contains waveglider observations from the Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) field campaign. The experiment was conducted approximately 300 km offshore of San Francisco, during a pilot campaign that spanned two weeks in October 2021, and two intensive operating periods in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. S-MODE aims to understand how ocean dynamics acting on short spatial scales influence the vertical exchange of physical and biological variables in the ocean. Three wave gliders were deployed as part of the S-MODE pilot campaign, equipped with a suite of sensors including sonic anemometers, shortwave and longwave radiometers, CTD profilers, and ADCPs. All wave gliders include an IMU that records platform orientation and motion at 20Hz. Data are available in netCDF format.

Product Summary

Platforms
Wave Glider
Instruments
CTD ,
ADCP ,
MMS ,
CURRENT METERS
Spatial Extent

N: 38.2 S: 36.3 E: -122.1 W: -126.2

Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2021-10-28 to 2023-05-14
Data Partner
Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (NASA/JPL/PODAAC)
Concept ID
C2574025518-POCLOUD
Data State
COMPLETE
Number of Files/Granules
29
Processing Level
2
Science Keywords
Conductivity ,
Surface Winds ,
OCEAN TEMPERATURE PROFILES ,
Ocean Circulation ,
SURFACE CURRENTS ,
Salinity ,
Air Temperature ,
Surface Pressure

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

SMODE. (2023). S-MODE Waveglider Observations [Data set]. NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/SMODE-WAVEGL2 Date Accessed: 2026-05-14

Documents

Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
time_10Hz Time of Sitex GPS measurement seconds since 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z double N/A N/A 1 N/A
time_15min Start of 15 minute sea surface wave sampling period seconds since 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z double N/A N/A 1 N/A
time_20Hz Time recorded by NOVATEL GPS, 20Hz sampling rate seconds since 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z double N/A N/A 1 N/A
UCTD_conductivity Upper SeaBird GPCTD conductivity measurement S m-1 float -9999 3 to 6 1 N/A
UCTD_density Upper SeaBird GPCTD sea water in-situ density kg m-3 float -9999 1000 to 1040 1 N/A
UCTD_depth Upper SeaBird GPCTD depth measurement m float N/A N/A 1 N/A
UCTD_salinity Upper SeaBird GPCTD sea surface practical salinity measurement 1 float -9999 30 to 36 1 N/A
UCTD_sea_water_temperature Upper SeaBird GPCTD sea water temperature degrees_C float -9999 -1 to 32 1 N/A
u_waveglider_10Hz Wave Glider zonal velocity component measured by Sitex GPS m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
u_waveglider_20Hz Wave glider zonal velocity component measured by NOVATEL GPS/IMU m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
v_waveglider_10Hz Wave Glider meridional velocity component measured by Sitex GPS m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
v_waveglider_20Hz Wave glider meridional velocity component measured by NOVATEL GPS/IMU m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
wave_direction Direction of surface waves measured by wave glider degree float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
wave_frequency Sea surface wave frequencies measured by wave glider s-1 float N/A N/A 1 N/A
wave_significant_height Significant wave height measured by wave glider over 30 minute period meter float -9999 0 to 20 1 N/A
wave_Szz Sea Surface waves vertical spectrum density m2 s rad-1 float -9999 0 to 1 1 N/A
wind_direction Wind direction measured clockwise, 0 = true north degrees float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
wind_speed Wind speed measured at 20Hz by Gill R3-50 m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
wind_vertical Vertical wind speed measured at 20Hz by Gill R3-50 m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
Workhorse_altitude Height of Workhorse ADCP m double N/A N/A 1 N/A
Workhorse_bin_depth depth measured from the center of each 2m bin m float -9999 N/A 1 N/A
Workhorse_flag Workhorse ADCP velocity flags N/A float -9999 0 to 1 1 N/A
Workhorse_heading Heading measured clockwise, 0 = true north degree float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
Workhorse_latitude Latitude of Workhorse ADCP degrees_north double N/A N/A 1 N/A
Workhorse_longitude Longitude of Workrhorse ADCP degrees_east double N/A N/A 1 N/A
Workhorse_pitch Workhorse ADCP pitch degree float -9999 -90 to 90 1 N/A
Workhorse_roll Workhorse ADCP roll degree float -9999 -180 to 180 1 N/A
Workhorse_temperature sea water temperature measured by Workhorse ADCP degrees_C float -9999 -10 to 40 1 N/A
Workhorse_time Time recorded by Teledyne Workhorse ADCP, 1Hz sampling rate seconds since 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z double N/A N/A 1 N/A
Workhorse_vel_east Zonal velocity component of Workhorse ADCP measurement m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
Workhorse_vel_north Meridional velocity component of Workhorse ADCP measurement m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
Workhorse_vel_up Upward velocity component of Workhorse ADCP measurement m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
WXT_air_temperature Air temperature measured by WXT530 degrees_C float -9999 -10 to 40 1 N/A
WXT_atmospheric_pressure Atmospheric Pressure measured by WXT530 mbar float -9999 950 to 1050 1 N/A
WXT_rain_accumulated Accumulated rainfall computed by integrating WXT_rain_amount > 0.02 mm/s. Rainfall was measured using an accoustic sensor very close to sea level. The accuracy has not been determined mm float -9999 0 to 1000 1 N/A
WXT_rain_amount Rainfall was measured using an accoustic sensor very close to sea level. The accuracy has not been determined mm s-1 float -9999 0 to 10 1 N/A
WXT_rain_intensity Rainfall intensity updates every 10 seconds and represents the intensity during the prior one minute period. Rainfall was measured using an accoustic sensor very close to sea level. The accuracy has not been determined mm hr-1 float -9999 0 to 100 1 N/A
WXT_relative_humidity Relative humidity measured by WXT530 percent float -9999 0 to 100 1 N/A
WXT_wind_direction Wind direction measured clockwise, 0 = true north degree float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
WXT_wind_speed Wind speed measured by WXT530 m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
w_waveglider_10Hz Wave Glider downward velocity measured by Sitex GPS m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
w_waveglider_20Hz Wave glider upward velocity measured by NOVATEL GPS/IMU m s-1 float -9999 -10 to 10 1 N/A
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